Author: Mark Bowden
Rating:

The book traces the dramatic rise and fall of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. The brutal way in which Escobar seized power is shocking, and the effort to bring him down was distressing. Having just returned from Colombia, I was struck by the warmth of its people and the country’s stunning natural beauty. Yet, even forty years after Escobar’s death, this dark chapter of history continues to cast a shadow over Colombian society. Many locals prefer to forget the painful past and view the use of Escobar’s name as a tourist gimmick with contempt, especially while drug trafficking and the presence of paramilitary groups still linger.

The book offers a detailed account of the U.S. involvement in the manhunt and how it ultimately led to Escobar’s demise. The final moments of his life are particularly gripping. It also highlights the crucial, though controversial, role of the paramilitary group Los Pepes, whose campaign of terror against Escobar’s associates significantly contributed to his downfall. Their murky ties to both Colombian authorities and U.S. agents continue to raise questions and influence geopolitical discourse to this day.